COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS. This item contains a presentation of recommendations for the 2011 CSU Federal Agenda.

Transcription

1 COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS California State University Federal Agenda for 2011 Presentation By Garrett P. Ashley Vice Chancellor University Relations and Advancement James M. Gelb Assistant Vice Chancellor Federal Relations Summary Action Item Page 1 of 6 This item contains a presentation of recommendations for the 2011 CSU Federal Agenda. Background In January 2010, the Board of Trustees adopted the 2010 CSU Federal Agenda, a legislative program for the system that included both policy and project priorities for the second session of the 111 th Congress. Over the past year, the CSU s Office of Federal Relations (OFR) and system leaders worked to advance those priorities. With regard to the system s policy priorities, the CSU had a significant, positive impact on a number of items. For example, the CSU supported key provisions of HR 4872, the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, signed into law on March 30, HR 4872 provides for a major boost to Pell Grant funding over the next decade. It increases the maximum Pell Grant award from its previous cap of $5,350 to $5,550 for the academic years. Then, starting in fall 2013, the maximum Pell Grant is set to increase annually at the same rate as the cost of living, by being indexed to the Consumer Price Index (CPI). This approach is projected to lead to a maximum grant of $5,975 by 2017, after which the CPI indexing expires. HR 4872 also continues through fiscal year 2019 providing significant supplementary funding to minority-serving institutions, including Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), to support students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields. These funds were made available by ending the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) program, which provided subsidies to banks for making government-backed loans to students. Chancellor Reed provided testimony in the House in 2009 demonstrating the feasibility of ending the FFEL program and replacing it with the federal direct lending program. In addition, the CSU lobbied successfully for language that would continue professional science masters (PSM) programs as part of the reauthorization of the America COMPETES legislation

2 Page 2 of 6 (HR 5116) finalized during last month s lame duck session. The CSU also helped advance firsttime funding for a program to enhance capacity at Hispanic-serving agricultural colleges and universities (HSACUs). Support for HSACUs was included in the President s budget proposal for the current fiscal year (FY 2011) and in the relevant Senate committee bill. Final resolution of FY 2011 appropriations will be made by the new Congress in the next few months. Finally, the CSU won bi-partisan support for a House resolution honoring the CSU s 50 th anniversary. On March 3, the US House of Representatives passed H Res 1117, which was introduced by Reps. Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose) and Wally Herger (R-Chico), and co-sponsored by 43 more members of the California delegation. With regard to project priorities, the CSU was able to garner strong support from members of the California Congressional delegation for a number of system and campus initiatives. The CSU had identified six broad, multi-campus initiatives that tap into the system s applied research and workforce training strengths as systemwide FY 2011 priorities, and submitted roughly 60 forms to 30 different California delegation members seeking support for those projects. When House Republicans decided not to make earmark requests after the forms had been submitted, a number of opportunities were lost. Even so, all six projects were formally requested by at least one House or Senate member, and most had multiple supporters. Tentative earmarks for three of the projects were included in House and/or Senate markups: the Strategic Language Initiative (SLI) (House, $3,500,000); the Metro Academies Initiative (Senate, $350,000); and the Agricultural Research Initiative (ARI) (House, $693,000; Senate, $350,000). A number of earmarks were also included in House and Senate markups for campus initiatives in areas ranging from supporting veterans and foster youth to energy and transit centers. However, the 111 th Congress failed to complete the appropriations process for the current fiscal year, meaning final spending decisions will be made by the new 112 th Congress, where it appears certain that project earmarks will not be included for FY Recommendations for the 2011 Federal Agenda This past fall, the OFR, in coordination with the Chancellor s Office, set in motion the annual process designed to produce a well-honed federal agenda. In September, Chancellor Reed sent a memo to all 23 CSU presidents and senior system leaders, soliciting recommendations and outlining criteria for the system s 2011 Federal Agenda. As in the past, the chancellor s memo sought proposals in two distinct areas: 1) federal legislative and regulatory policy; and 2) CSU projects for which direct federal funding will be sought. With respect to both project and policy recommendations, the solicitation emphasized that the federal agenda must be consistent with the CSU system s core objectives, and they must contribute to system goals of preserving access, providing quality instruction, and preparing students for the workforce. While these principles have their own relevance in the federal arena, it was stressed that the federal agenda should also complement and be consistent with our state program in Sacramento.

3 Page 3 of 6 The items proposed below for inclusion in the 2011 Federal Agenda are based upon submissions received in response to the chancellor s solicitation, and have advanced through several levels of review, including the Executive Council, and the chancellor and his executive leadership staff. Proposed Federal Policy Priorities for 2011 With the Obama administration entering its third year and the first session of the 112 th Congress commencing, a number of policy items of significant interest to the CSU are likely to come into play. One is the pending reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (currently known as No Child Left Behind ); teacher preparation programs and pipeline issues will be of particular interest to the CSU. Other potential areas where major new legislation may be taken up include transportation, energy and the environment. Given the current political atmosphere and the nation s economic and fiscal situation, certain to be at issue is funding of a broad range of programs important to CSU students, faculty, institutions and programs. While the CSU will frequently be called upon to respond to proposals made by others, such as members of Congress and the U.S. Department of Education, the following priority areas should be the subject of proactive pursuit: Ensuring Access through Aid to Students: Federal financial aid programs are critical to CSU students, accounting for more than $1 billion in assistance annually. For example, more than 140,000 CSU students receive need-based Pell Grants. It will be important to maintain overall funding for the Pell program and the maximum grant at its current level. Aid programs, like the Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) and Work Study programs, along with National and Community service programs, are additional key examples of federal assistance important to the CSU. Better Preparing Students for College Success: The CSU is on the cutting edge of partnering with K-12 to improve student preparation, and the federal government is a vital partner. The CSU should promote robust GEAR UP and TRIO funding; resources for programs that prepare teachers, especially in underserved areas; and programs that enhance the community colleges transfer process. Fostering Success for California's Diverse Population: The CSU provides more than half of all undergraduate degrees granted to California's Latino, African American and Native American students, and is a leader in transitioning veterans to the civilian workforce. The CSU should support programs and resources that assist veterans with college success, help build capacity and programs at developing, Hispanic-serving institutions and other minority-serving institutions, and provide institutional aid to universities that educate the greatest number of Pell-eligible students.

4 Page 4 of 6 Training Students for Today's Workforce: 93,000 annual graduates drive California's economy in information technology, life sciences, agriculture, business, education, public administration, entertainment and multimedia industries. In the federal environment, the CSU should seek support for complementary initiatives, such as professional science masters (PSM) programs, teacher preparation programs like the Teacher Quality Partnership and Noyce Scholarship programs, and the proposed Paul Simon Study Abroad program. Solving Problems through Applied Research: In laboratories, at field sites and through programs at the CSU, students, faculty and collaborating scientists advance California s capacity to address key issues of significance to our state and nation. The CSU should advocate broadening the federally supported applied research base for comprehensive universities, including, for example, in the STEM fields (America COMPETES, NSF and NIH funding) and agriculture (Non-land-grant colleges of agriculture [ NLGCA ] and HSACU programs), among others. Finally, it is recommended that the CSU continue to advocate for policies that promote philanthropy to universities and a positive climate for university advancement. Federal Project Proposals for 2011 (FY 2012) The environment for congressionally directed spending requests, or earmarks, has changed dramatically going into FY 2012, and the terrain is uncertain. The House s new Republican leadership has announced that no earmarks will be included in that chamber s FY 2012 appropriations measures. The Democratic-led Senate has not announced a formal policy. It remains possible that the Senate will continue to entertain earmark requests. Dozens of CSU projects, including both campus and multi-campus proposals, were submitted in response to this fall s internal solicitation process. The CSU will need to continue to monitor the approach being taken by the Congress, and may submit requests as appropriate. To that end, it is recommended that, as in recent years, CSU project priorities be divided into two categories. The first category would encompass five broad-based, multi-campus initiatives consistent with ongoing system collaborative efforts in core areas of CSU strength: Agricultural Research Initiative (ARI): The CSU will seek continued federal support for its ARI initiative, which leverages state, federal and industry resources to support high-impact applied agricultural and related environmental research, development, and technology transfer, as well as public and industry education and outreach. California Biotechnology Partnerships for Next Generation Biofuel Production: The California State University (CSU) Program for Education and Research in Biotechnology (CSUPERB) seeks funding to start up a sustainable workforce development program to

5 Page 5 of 6 answer the critical workforce need for professionals who have knowledge and skills in biorefining, processing and conversion of feedstocks into commercial-scale biofuels. Strategic Language Initiative (SLI): The CSU will seek continued federal support for SLI, its collaborative effort to create programs that integrate language learning with professional majors and career opportunities and serve as a national model for training programs in critical world languages, helping our nation meet defense, diplomatic and business needs. CSU COAST Equipment and Infrastructure: To address the unprecedented challenges facing our nation s coasts due to human use and development, declining habitat quality, and climate change, the California State University Council on Ocean Affairs, Science and Technology (COAST) seeks statewide equipment and infrastructure funding for six multi-campus Research, Training and Technology Networks. Each network is strategically designed to promote applied research in critical coastal and marine issues and provide a platform to convey the results of this research to stakeholders for effective coastal management. Water Resources and Policy Initiative (WRPI): The CSU will seek an increase to the base funding supporting the existing eight EPA Small Public Water Systems Technical Assistance Centers to establish a Center for Disadvantaged Communities Water Assistance in California within the California State University system. The purpose of the center is the sharing and direct application of knowledge designed to improve the physical, financial, managerial and organizational components of systems as they strive to increase the availability of safe, sustainable and reliable drinking water and wastewater treatment for all Californians. The OFR will work to achieve the broadest and most strategic support possible for these initiatives from members of the California Congressional delegation. The second category would include the submitted campus-oriented projects, provided they have been endorsed and prioritized by the campus president, and meet the following criteria: The project significantly impacts a major need or priority of the campus or the system; The project is well-developed; The project is well-suited to the federal appropriations process; and The project fits within a balanced program of requests for the CSU for reasonable amounts across different areas of funding.

6 Page 6 of 6 Because of the inherently shifting nature of campus, state and national priorities, the CSU federal agenda process recognizes that project requests may evolve over time. While campuses are primarily responsible for garnering support for their local initiatives, the OFR will continue to work with the campuses to refine and develop project proposals, and to assist them in working productively with their representatives in Congress as they seek support in the relevant appropriations venues for federal funding in FY The following resolution is recommended for approval: RESOLVED, by the Board of Trustees of the California State University, that the federal legislative program described in of the meeting of the Committee on Governmental Relations on, is adopted as the 2011 CSU Federal Agenda.